The comms, or Personal Communications Device,[1] is roughly analogous to a modern-day mobile phone. Comms units, sometimes referred to as "phones," are mostly used for voice calls and data transfer. Notably, there is presently no canonical evidence that a comms unit can send or receive text messages.
A comms unit is identified by its "comms coordinates," sometimes referred to as its "number."[2] Different comms units can be visually distinct: Captain Khan notes that Tod's comms looks different than Juno's.[1] Different models of comms can also have varying levels of complexity.[2]
Features[]
- Receiver[3]
- Adjustable volume[4]
- Based on the sound effects, we can infer it can either have or attach to a keyboard.[5]
- Can be used as a light source[6]
- Can be split into a handheld unit and an earpiece[4]
- Water-resistant: Juno's comms falls into sewer water without breaking.[4]
- Selection of system languages[4]
Functions[]
- Voice calls, heralded by a distinctive "beep"
- Answering machine, including an outgoing message and voicemail storage, for when a comms unit runs "out of juice"[2] or is not answered.
- Camera[1]
- Audio recording[7]
- Games[3]
- Data transference: deeds,[8] money,[9] pictures,[1] census records[10]
- (Optional) Transactional security: A comms device can record participants' fingerprints and verbal consent before allowing a transaction to take place.[8]
- Access and download files from the Net[4]
- Mail storage[11]
- Download and play audio files. An audio file can be fast-forwarded through or paused.[4]
- Rita can use the connection between her and Juno's comms to hack a computer. This is not a native comms feature.[5]
- Store a list of contacts' names and comms coordinates[2]
- Play back video footage[12]
Error modes[]
- Running out of power: A dead comms can record incoming voice messages, but cannot be actively used.[2]
- Loss of signal: Can be due to distance,[13] a sandstorm,[14] or active signal-blocking.[2] A comms with no signal cannot connect to the Net or receive voice calls, but it can record incoming voice messages. Poor signal can result in static.[15]
- Producing feedback[2]
Specific variants[]
- SatComm, an old but reliable model with limited functionality. Provided the user reaches a high enough altitude, the SatComm can connect to a signal via satellite. Issued by Dark Matters to Sasha Wire.[14]
- Shortwave comms[15]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Juno Steel and the Midnight Fox (Part 2)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Juno Steel and the Long Way Home (Part 1)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Juno Steel and the Soul of the People (Part 1)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Juno Steel and the Long Way Home (Part 2)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Juno Steel and the Kitty-Cat Caper (Part 2)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 2)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Dragon's Den (Part 2)
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Juno Steel and the Time Gone By (Part 2)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Stolen City (Part 2)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Man of the Future (Part 1)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Dragon's Den (Part 1)
- ↑ Juno Steel and the Case of the Murderous Mask Update (Part 1)
- ↑ Peter Nureyev and the Angel of Brahma (Part 1)
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Juno Steel and the Day That Wouldn't Die (Part 1)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Juno Steel and the Lesson Learned (Part 1)